About 50 students travelled across the lake every day to town for school using a speedboat – Jubi
Sentani, Jubi – Students living across Lake Sentani have missed classes because they could not afford to pay for speedboat rides.
A speedboat operator at Yahim Quay, Dobonsolo Village, Jayapura Regency, Frengky Ibo, said about 50 students travelled across the lake every day to town for school, paying Rp 2,500 one way or Rp 5,000 return.
“Here the speedboats are mostly privately-owned. There also those donated by Education Office. But this is mine,” he said.
He said the speedboats for the students are separate from speedboats for public transportation. A speedboat can carry up to 15 people.
“When the students want to go to school, they should wait at the quay and we will transport them. The same way goes for the return. We will wait until the last student, because we knew who are going home,” he said.
Those who would stay at the town, he said, would let them know so that they don’t have to be waited.
“We hope in the future the Regional Government would able to donate a special speedboat for the students, like at Yoboi Village that had donation from the school. So if they have their own school transportation,” he said.
A student from Yoboi Village Nesti Alinda Sokoy said because she takes the speedboat to the school, she must get ready at 5:58 Papua time. She, who’s currently the 12th grade at SMA YPPGI Jayapura Regency, said if she run out for money, she would stay at home. “If I cannot go to school, I usually inform my class monitor who will telling my teacher,” she said. (*/rom)
